CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE #2

By David Riggs

Intro.
   A. Usually young people enjoy a challenge.
      1. In any type of game or sport, young people become very
         competitive.
      2. Put before young people a challenge and you have an
         incentive to move them.
   B. In our first lesson, we placed before young people the
      challenges of respecting authority, becoming responsible, and
      gaining wisdom--especially spiritual wisdom.
      1. In this lesson we continue with more challenges for
         young people.

I. THE CHALLENGE OF GAINING EXPERIENCE.
   A. There are some things we cannot learn except through
      experience.  It is called, "the school of hard knocks."
      1. Mark Twain said, "A cat that sits on a hot stove will
         learn to not sit on a hot stove anymore."
         a. That cat will probably not sit on any stoves
            anymore.
      2. Young people will have manifold diverse experiences in
         life.
         a. We encourage you to walk with God in all of them. 
            Prov. 3:5-10; James 4:8
   B. We do not need to learn everything by actual experience; we
      can learn by the experiences of others.
      1. For example, the writer of Eccl. tried to find happiness
         by experiencing various things of life and concluded in
         the end that they were all vain.
         a. One of his often repeated statements is, "All is
            vanity and grasping for the wind."  Eccl. 2:1-2, 10-
            11, 17
         b. One young man said he wanted to enjoy all those
            things before obeying God.  He missed the very
            point the writer of Eccl. was trying to make.  He
            wrote those things to spare people from the misery,
            heartache, and the foolishness of following such a
            course.
      2. Young people, listen to the counsel of others who have
         gleaned from years of experience.  They can encourage
         you in things that are wise and profitable.
         a. It is exceedingly wise for young people to listen to
            sound advice and instruction.  Prov. 1:5; 9:9; 10:17;
            12:15; 19:20-21; 20:5
         b. Listen to Mom and Dad and obey them; they love
            you and earnestly and sincerely seek your good as
            do no others.  Prov. 2:1-5

II. THE CHALLENGE OF REJECTING WORLDLINESS.
   A. Young people should be happy and enjoy life.
      1. Good, clean fun and happiness are an important part of
         youth.
      2. God wants young people to enjoy their youth, and
         remembering Him while enjoying it.  Eccl. 11:9-12:1
         a. Notice the three "R" words in these verses.
            (1) "Rejoice" -- 11:9 -- be happy, enjoy life.
            (2) "Remove" -- 11:10 -- remove sorrow, remove
                evil from your life.
            (3) "Remember" -- 12:1 -- always remember
                God.  Prov. 3:5-6
   B. It is a great challenge for youth people to live in the world,
      but not be of the world.  John 15:19; 17:14-16
      1. Before young people is the challenge to stand opposed to
         immorality, drinking, drugs, youthful lusts, profanity, and
         dishonesty.
      2. We encourage our young people to choose good
         companionships, set your affections on things above, and
         avoid the pitfalls of Satan.  I Cor. 15:33; Col. 3:2; 1 Pet.
         5:8
      3. The way to be transformed from the world is by
         renewing of your mind.  Rom. 12:1
      4. We hope you will learn to love the world less and less,
         but the Lord more and more.  This will make for a happy
         life.  1 Pet. 1:8

III. THE CHALLENGE OF GROWING SPIRITUALLY.
   A. Young people, we hope that in all your endeavors in life you
      won't make the mistake of neglecting you spiritual growth.
      1. The kingdom of God must come first--before all other
         activities.
         a. Develop good study habits of God's word.  Work on
            you Bible lessons.  2 Tim. 2:15
         b. Don't forget to pray always.  1 Thess. 5:16-18
         c. Keep yourself pure.  2 Tim. 2:22
            (1) One young man said he wanted to marry a
                virgin, and was keeping himself pure because
                that special one had the right to expect the
                same of him.
   B. Seek to grow into a mature Christian that you might go to
      heaven in the end.
      1. One must sow to the Spirit to obtain heaven.  Gal. 6:8
      2. It matters not what else you do in life, if you miss heaven
         you have been a complete failure.
         a. You might gather about you great riches and fame
            and leave thousands of friends to mourn your
            departing, but if you are not ready for heaven you
            have been a miserable failure.
         b. On the other hand, you may die in a charity home
            for the poor and be buried in a potter's field without
            a single friend to mourn, but if you receive heaven,
            your life was a marvelous success.
      3. You can't afford to miss heaven; for, if you miss it, you
         miss all.
         a. It is the place of eternal rest.  Heb. 4:9-11
         b. Sickness, pain and death will not be known there. 
            Rev. 21:4
         c. It is an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
            that fadeth not away.  1 Pet. 1:4
         d. It is that city built by the living God.  Heb. 11:10
      4. You don't have to miss heaven.
         a. Humbly submit yourself to the will of God.  Matt.
            7:21
         b. Let His word guide you in all things.  2 Tim. 3:15
         c. Let no man beguile you of your reward.  Col. 2:18
         d. Overcome temptations.  James 1:12
         e. Suffer for His cause with rejoicing.  Matt. 5:11-12
      5. If you do these things, heaven will be yours someday for
         the God of heaven who cannot lie has promised it.

Concl.
   A. Thus, young people, we place before you these great
      challenges: respecting authority, becoming responsible,
      obtaining wisdom, gaining experience, rejecting worldliness,
      and growing spiritually.
      1. We hope that you will put your trust in God and rise up
         to meet all these challenges.
      2. By meeting them, you can make for yourself a happy and
         successful life here on earth, and in the world to come,
         eternal life.
   B. A great challenge before our young people is that of obeying
      the gospel and becoming a Christian.
      1. It is right to become a Christian and wrong not to.  
         a. Truly, it is wise and right to become a Christian and
            most wrong and foolish not to become one.  
         b. One who fears God, obeys Christ, wins others, and
            diligently prepares himself for heaven is doing right,
            and the one who does not prepare himself is doing
            wrong.  
         c. Will you not become a Christian by obeying the
            gospel today?
         d. It is right to do it and wrong not to!